[[Image:Windows language bar.JPG|right]] Microsoft Windows XP offers support for virtually any language including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. You can type in any of these languages using Microsoft Word and Input Method Editors (IME) available from Windows Text Services (see section below on how to configure language input on your computer). In many Middlebury College computer labs there is additional software installed that provides more text formatting options for some languages.

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[[Image:Windows language bar.JPG|right]] Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 7 offer support for virtually any language including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. You can type in any of these languages using Microsoft Word and Input Method Editors (IME) available from Windows Text Services (see section below on how to configure language input on your computer). In many Middlebury College computer labs there is additional software installed that provides more text formatting options for some languages.

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#Start Microsoft Word (or any other application you want to use).

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#Start Microsoft Word (or any other application you want to use).

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#Select the language you want to type in from the Language Bar on the taskbar (see Configuring Your PC For Multilingual Support):

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#Select the language you want to type in from the Language Bar on the taskbar (see Configuring Your PC For Multilingual Support):

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#Click the icon in the lower right corner of your screen. A pop-up menu will appear.

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##Click the icon in the lower right corner of your screen. A pop-up menu will appear.

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#Select your language from the pop-up menu. (some language options require you to right-click on the language icon (e.g. CH) and chose Adjust the Language band position.

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##Select your language from the pop-up menu. (some language options require you to right-click on the language icon (e.g. CH) and chose Adjust the Language band position.

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*If you accidentally close the Language Bar, you can reopen it by right-clicking on an unused area on the taskbar and choosing '''Toolbars''' -&gt; '''Language Bar'''.

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* If you accidentally close the Language Bar, you can reopen it by right-clicking on an unused area on the taskbar and choosing '''Toolbars''' -&gt; '''Language Bar'''.

===== Keyboard Shortcuts =====

===== Keyboard Shortcuts =====

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==== Use the On-Screen Keyboard to find your way ====

==== Use the On-Screen Keyboard to find your way ====

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[[Image:OSK.PNG|right|400px]] An '''On-Screen Keyboard''' can be useful for some languages such as Russian and Arabic. To run the on-screen keyboard, go to [[Image:Start button.PNG]] -&gt; '''Programs''' -&gt; '''Accessories''' -&gt; '''Accessibility''' -&gt; '''On-Screen Keyboard'''.

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[[Image:OSK.PNG|right|400px]] An '''On-Screen Keyboard''' can be useful for some languages such as Russian and Arabic. To run the on-screen keyboard, go to [[Image:Start button.PNG]] -&gt; '''Programs''' -&gt; '''Accessories''' -&gt; '''Accessibility''' -&gt; '''On-Screen Keyboard'''.

Typing foreign characters in Microsoft Word

You can type some foreign characters in MS Word without any special configuration. There are certain key combinations that signal your computer to use a character that isn't found on an English keyboard. These characters are actually pretty easy to enter in, once you learn the basic rule.

If you don't want to or don't know how to configure your keyboard to type in foreign characters directly, you can use this trick to enter in the characters in MS Word, and then copy and paste them into another program if needed.

The basic rule

On a PC running Windows, MS Word's foreign character shortcuts usually involve first pressing and some other character, and then pressing the letter key that you want to add an accent to.

For example:

to create a é character, press + ; then release, and press . (The é is like an E with a ' on top of it.)

to create a ñ character, press + + ; then release, and press . (The ñ is like an N with a ~ on top of it; notice that just as you have to hold SHIFT to type a ~ character normally, you have to hold + in order to create a "tildefied" special character.)

Using and configuring foreign language support in Windows

Using The Language Bar in Windows XP/7

Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 7 offer support for virtually any language including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. You can type in any of these languages using Microsoft Word and Input Method Editors (IME) available from Windows Text Services (see section below on how to configure language input on your computer). In many Middlebury College computer labs there is additional software installed that provides more text formatting options for some languages.

Start Microsoft Word (or any other application you want to use).

Select the language you want to type in from the Language Bar on the taskbar (see Configuring Your PC For Multilingual Support):

Click the icon in the lower right corner of your screen. A pop-up menu will appear.

Select your language from the pop-up menu. (some language options require you to right-click on the language icon (e.g. CH) and chose Adjust the Language band position.

If you accidentally close the Language Bar, you can reopen it by right-clicking on an unused area on the taskbar and choosing Toolbars -> Language Bar.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The faster way to switch between input languages is by pressing Alt+Shift to cycle through the available languages. Some languages, such as Japanese, will additionally require you to switch input methods - the keyboard shortcut for this is Alt+` (the accent grave/tilde key). For switching between keyboard setups in languages like Chinese or English (particularly useful if you are using the US-International keyboard), the shortcut is Ctrl+Shift.

Use the On-Screen Keyboard to find your way

An On-Screen Keyboard can be useful for some languages such as Russian and Arabic. To run the on-screen keyboard, go to -> Programs -> Accessories -> Accessibility -> On-Screen Keyboard.

Configuring Your PC For Multilingual Language Support

Windows 7 - Classroom and Public Computers

Keyboard input for foreign languages is pre-installed on all classroom and public computers at Middlebury College. It can be found under the Start button => Programs => MIDD Languages.

keyboard language input in classrooms and labs

Windows 7

If your computer does not have the language inputs that you desire, you can add them by using these instructions:

Windows Vista

Windows XP

If your version of Windows has been installed with language support, you should be able to simply select the languages you want to use to make keyboards and/or input method editors (IME) become available to you. This can be done as follows:

Click the checkbox next to Show the Language Bar on the desktop, and set any other options you find useful.

Click . The Language Bar Settings window closes.

Click on the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box.

Click . The Language Bar will appear on the right side of your taskbar, displaying the English language icon (EN).

Click . The Text Services and Input Languages window closes.

Windows XP Input Method Editors (IME)

Typing in many non-Latin-based languages requires learning how these characters are transliterated into English characters. Consult the instructors in your Language School for more detailed information. Here is a list of recommended keyboard layout/IME for Windows XP:

Microsoft Office Proofing Tools

Proofing Tools can be purchased for Microsoft Office that provide additional text input and formatting options for many languages such as Spelling and Grammar Checkers, Translation Dictionaries, Thesauri and Hyphenation Tools. Proofing Tools for Chinese also have options for converting Chinese text to Simplified or Traditional characters. Proofing Tools are installed in most computer labs at Middlebury and can be purchased from Microsoft for individual computers.

Typing Diacritics (accents) on the Macintosh (not just in Word)

Typing in international characters is the same for all Mac applications, including the operating system.

Typing Diacritics (accents) on the PC (not just in Word)

Includes the ALT + 3-digit and ALT + 4-digit combinations. Note that the table is setup as follows: Column 1 is the alt codes, which work under any circumstances, but require a numeric keypad (this can be simulated on most laptops by holding down the Function key and looking for the small blue numbers on the right half of the keyboard.) Column 2 will work in Microsoft Word and a few other Office programs, but not in most other situations. Column 3 is the easiest to use, and often the most intuitive, but it requires that your keyboard first be set to US-International (see above tutorial for adding new input methods under Regional and Language Options.)